Backyard Bird Feeding in Newfoundland: A Showcase GrassRoots Project

Backyard Bird Feeding in Newfoundland used peer and cross-tutoring to help primary students acquire information and communications technology (ICT) skills through learning about the habits of local birds, their environments and their eating habits in an innovative Internet-based learning project.

Document Highlights 

Four classes of Grades 3, 8 and 9 students of St. Anne’s Academy designed and completed one of the school’s first projects—Backyard Bird Feeding—in April 2000. The project involved 110 students and four educators in intensive curriculum-related activities that built students’ and teachers’ ICT skills and enhanced students’ communications, problem-solving and teamwork skills.

This case study looks at the:

• objectives of the program;
• activities;
• benefits for students, parents, teachers and education;
• keys to success;
• challenges;
• innovative approaches; and
• achievements.